United
States Submarine Veterans, Inc.
Pocono
Base – Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, 18 October 2006
<>
Meeting called to order at
1907 by Base Commander Rich Holmes at the Marine Corps. League Museum
in Scranton, PA.
The Purpose of the
Organization was read. The Base Bell was tolled once for the following
US
Submarine Force Losses during the Month of October:
20 Oct 1923 USS
O-5
SS 66
3 Men
07 Oct 1943 USS
S-44
SS
155
56 Men
11 Oct 1943 USS
Wahoo
SS
238
79 Men
12 Oct 1943 USS
Dorado
SS
248
78 Men
03 Oct 1944 USS Seawolf
II
SS
197
102
Men
17 Oct 1944 USS
Escolar
SS
294
82 Men
24 Oct 1944 USS
Darter
SS
227
0 Men
24 Oct 1944 USS
Tang
SS
306
83 Men
24 Oct 1944 USS Shark
II
SS
314
90 Men
A moment of silence followed and
an invocation was given by Rich Holmes.
The Chief of the Boat led the members in
reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call: Members present
were: Rich Holmes, Mike Smith, Bill Klose, Bill Hannon and Steve
Vergalito.
Guests: None.
The secretary confirmed that a
quorum was present.
The Minutes: The secretary
read the minutes from the September meeting
1st
motion to accept the minutes made by Bill Hannon, 2nd motion made by
Rich Holmes.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: The
base treasurer reported an ending balance
of $3076.65 on 30 Sept 2006.
Committee Reports:
Membership: John Saeli
sent an e-mail stating that we now
have 44 members.
Parades:
Next parade should be the Veterans Day Parade in November in
Wilkes-Barre.
The date of the parade is Sunday,
12 Nov. 2006.
Further information will be coming, as we get closer to the date.
We do not have any information about the
Armed Forces day Parade in Scranton next year.
There is a rumor that it will
not be held due to lack of turnout.
Correspondence:
Rich brought up the e-mail from the USSVI National Scholarship
Committee. Most
of us with e-mail should have received it. Rich will include this in
his
newsletter.
We also received a letter via Bob Vaughan
from United Veterans Organization of Monroe County, inviting us to
attend the
Veterans Day Ceremony at Courthouse Square on Saturday 11 Nov 2006. We
have not
attended this in the past due to schedule conflicts.
Frank McDevitt received a letter from Tunkhannock Township
inviting us to join all veterans, armed forces personnel and their
families at
an unveiling of the Armed Forces Monument at the Tunkhannock Municipal
Building on Saturday 11
Nov 2006.
Rich also received another e-mail stating
that time is running out for National and Base dues. All dues must be
in by 31
Dec 2006. Rich stated that he has some dues applications for anyone who
needs one.
Dues are $35 for National and Base or $15 if you are a Life Member.
Old Business:
Rich
Holmes made mention that the letter we sent to Mr. White was really
asking for
response to the plate fee. Rich feels that this is what we voted on and
not to
take any action that we would take, but we disagreed with the way in
which the
issue was handled. We basically wanted them to answer our letter. The
letter
itself was pretty self-explanatory. John Saeli did read most of the
letter at
last months meeting. Rich
Holmes wrote to Jack Ensminger that we had some differences of opinion,
that we
were upset, and that we had never received any response. Rich stated
that there
will be some folks attending the D2/D5 meeting and that they don’t
speak
directly for Rich Holmes. Rich has some concerns about raising the
issue at
this point beyond getting an answer to the letter. Jack
wrote back stating that he felt that what that base did was wrong, but
considers it a dead issue at this point.
Regarding
the trailer, Frank believes we can leave it where it is. Frank is
asking for
options if anyone has indoor storage for the trailer.
The only issue
regarding obtaining a torpedo is the transportation and cost of
transportation.
Based upon last months’ minute, Gerald stated that he tried to contact
the
person in Little Rock,
but his contact was busy preparing for the convention at the time. Rich
is
concerned about the weight of the torpedo and any restrictions about
transporting it. We have access to trailers, but are concerned with the
length
of the MK14 as well. Rich stated that his son lives in Tennessee
off of Rte. 40 in Holiday and is a trucker.
Rich might ask him if he could help us with it. Bill Hannon brought up
the
point of where are we going to put the torpedo. Rich would like to see
it
become part of the memorial at Tobyhanna. The depot is building another
memorial across the street from the existing one, and thinks that it
would be
nice to have a presence there if we could do it.
Rich still wants
to go ahead with the float and was wondering if we could work on it at
the
Depot hobby shop. Bill Hannon stated that the space is limited and that
the
gentleman that works there only assists with cars and that it is an in
and out
type of deal. Steve brought up the idea of using expandable foam
instead. Rich
Holmes brought up the idea of using an inflatable sub and filling it
with the
expanding foam. This would give us the basic form, then
we could paint it and or finish it the way we like.
John Saeli sent
Rich Holmes an e-mail regarding the Longevity Pins. John states that he
can get
them for $64 for 32 pins for our members. We decided to table this
until the
next meeting due to small attendance tonight. John stated that he has
the pins
and would like the base to pay for them. Rich stated that if anyone
would like
one to pay for them ourselves.
New Business:
Rich
Holmes stated that he does not know if Tom Shields is going to be
available to
cater our Christmas Dinner this year.
He is looking for ideas on where we can
hold it if people are still interested in the dinner.
Good of the Order:
We
would like to try to go visit Grover Kiick sometime in the future.
Grover would
love to see some of us. The times to visit him would be on a Monday or
Thursday
afternoons.
Next meeting will be held
at 1900 on Wednesday 15 Nov. 2006 at the American Legion, Wilson-Fisher
Post in
Pocono Pines, PA.
Rich Holmes entertained a motion
to adjourn. 1st
motion made by Steve Vergalito, 2nd motion made by Bill Hannon.
Motion carried.
Rich Holmes led the recitation of
the Creed of USSVI.
A moment of silence followed in
lieu of a closing prayer.
Rich Holmes declared the meeting
of the Pocono Base adjourned.
The meeting was adjourned at 1947
hrs.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael D. Smith
USSVI – Pocono Base Secretary